Not the same old GM anymore

Introduction
The Chevorlet Cobalt, also marketed as the Pontiac Pursuit and Pontiac G5 in Canada, is General Motor's replacement for the Sunfire and Cavalier. The Cobalt marks a complete turn-around for this size and class of car. This will please some people, but disappoint others.

The past
There is no doubt that the Sunfire and Cavalier turned out to be two of the best looking cars in their respective class. When the Sunfire made its debut (replacing the Sunbird), its styling suggested it was far more sporty than it actually was. While it excelled in styling, it lacked in other areas: Refinement, fit and finish, handling, ride quality, and crashworthiness. In spite of this, the Sunfire and Cavalier both proved to be a very good value, and made for good-looking, reliable transportation for a good many people.

First impression
The first impression I got from this vehicle was how unremarkably bland it appeared, both inside and out. Sit behind the wheel, and I thought, "These can't be GM seats; they're actually comfortable!" Indeed, I was able to quickly and easily find a comfortable seating position. Even as I moved my seat all the way back (which was unnecessary, since there was more than enough legroom for my long legs), the back seat passenger still gets adequate legroom. At 6'4", I had plenty of headroom, a great view out the windshield, and lots of legroom. I also noted how much more improved and refined the interior looked; definitely heads and shoulders above the Cavalier and Sunfire this car replaces and on par with the best the imports in this class have to offer. All the buttons and knobs definitely have an upscale feel to them.

The engine
The engine started quickly and smoothly. Acceleration was quite brisk and smooth. The 2.2L ecotec powerplant is a good match for this car, as it delivers good fuel economy along with acceptable performance. The EPA has rated this car at 25 MPG city/34 MPG highway, but owners of this car have told me they have achieved better mileage than this. The power is a very respectable 145 horsepower and 155 lb. ft. of torque using regular unleaded gas. This engine is not new; it pre-dates this model of car as it was used in the Cavalier and Sunfire in their last couple years of production. It was also used in the base model Grand Am, as well in the base Chevrolet Malibu. It has proven to be a reliable and economical powerplant.

Smooth and quiet
The ride was smooth...very smooth. The electronic variable power assist steering worked very nicely and smoothly. In fact, smooth is what this car is all about. Throw it into a corner, and it takes the corner competently and smoothly. Hit a bump, and it will smooth it out. The impression I was left with from driving this car was that it drove a lot like a bigger car, but with a much tighter turning radius. Road and wind noise is quite low. So is engine noise. It would be accurate to say that this car is both smooth and quiet; considerably more than its competitors that I have test driven.

Other touches
There are some other nice touches. For instance, the battery is located in the trunk. This helps with weight distribution, and makes it easier for boosting the car should the battery go dead since it can be boosted from the front or rear. There's a computer that displays things such as the outside temperature, fuel economy, range, and average speed; along with the amount of life left for your engine oil (in %) and the exact temperature of the coolant.

Conclusion
This car is definitely not the "Same old thing" from the "Same big company." It's clear that GM has the Toyota Corolla in its sights with this car. Indeed, the quality is definitely there, and it's my opinion that the Cobalt surpasses the Corolla on many levels. There's really no reason to not like this car. The only criticism I can make is the fact that, in contrast to the styling of the Cavalier and Sunfire, it is rather bland. However, if you want a compact car with a smooth, quiet ride, with good economy combined with good acceleration characteristics, in a car that's going to prove to be solidly reliable, then this is definitely a car worth considering.